Guzmania Plant Named &#39;BUNGUZOR&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Guzmania  plant named ‘BUNGUZOR’ which is characterized by the combination of a broad, upright growth habit with foliage arranged in an attractive rosette, an inflorescence held above the foliage with small yellow flowers that are subtended by large, showy orange to red-orange floral bracts which are tipped green, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2019/3274, filed Nov. 30, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Guzmania Ruiz & Pay.

Variety denomination:

The inventive variety of Guzmania disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘BUNGUZOR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The Guzmania variety ‘BUNGUZOR’ is a seedling selection which resulted from a controlled pollination breeding program. In November of 2013, the inventor performed the controlled cross-pollination of a proprietary unnamed Guzmania plant, the seed parent, and a second unnamed proprietary Guzmania plant, the pollen parent, at a commercial greenhouse in Kudelstaart, the Netherlands. Both parents were developed by the inventor and never released to the public. In June of 2016, the inventor observed one seedling from the cross which exhibited unique foliage and inflorescence characteristics and isolated the plant for further evaluation. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, the new Guzmania plant was selected for commercialization and given the name ‘BUNGUZOR’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘BUNGUZOR’ was first asexually propagated by way of vegetative cuttings in November of 2016 and subsequently by way of meristematic tissue culture micropropagation at a commercial tissue culture laboratory in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. Through 6 subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BUNGUZOR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BUNGUZOR’. These characteristics, in combination, distinguish ‘BUNGUZOR’ as a new and distinct Guzmania cultivar:

-   -   1. Guzmania ‘BUNGUZOR’ exhibits a broad, upright growth habit         with foliage arranged in an attractive rosette; and     -   2. Guzmania ‘BUNGUZOR’ exhibits dark green foliage which is         slightly twisted; and     -   3. Guzmania ‘BUNGUZOR’ exhibits a relatively large terminal         spike inflorescence held above the foliage; and     -   4. Guzmania ‘BUNGUZOR’ exhibits an inflorescence with small         yellow flowers that are subtended by large, showy orange to         red-orange floral bracts which are tipped green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘BUNGUZOR’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Kudelstaart, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 7 months old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in November of 2020, describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 7 month-old ‘BUNGUZOR’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery pots at a commercial greenhouse in Kudelstaart, the Netherlands. Plants were grown under shade cloth and maintained with a 0.8 EC fertigation program with regular overhead irrigation. No chemical pest measures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘BUNGUZOR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘BUNGUZOR’ and a comparison with the parent plants and most similar variety of Guzmania are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Perennial; monopodial; broad, upright. Leaves             arranged in a basal rosette, with no lateral branching, and             the inflorescence growing from the center of the basal             rosette and held above the foliage.         -   Plant form.—Flattened globular.         -   Average height.—17.0 cm, from the soil level to the top of             the foliar plane, and 37.7 to the top of the floral plane.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 49.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings and meristematic             tissue culture micropropagation.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 to 28 days to             initiate roots at 22 degrees Celsius.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 105 days at             22 degrees Celsius.         -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to typical Guzmania pests and diseases has             been observed.         -   Temperature tolerances.—USDA Zones 10 to 13; at least             tolerant of temperatures to 40 degrees Celsius. High             tolerance to rain inundation; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Thick; medium density.         -   Texture.—Slightly fleshy. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Basal rosette. No stems or lateral branches.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity of leaves.—18.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 35.8 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. Thickness             — Approximately 0.9 cm. Shape of blade — Ensiform. Aspect —             Moderately concave. Attitude — Upright and moderately             reflexed. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Sheathing. Margin —             Entire; not undulated. Pubescence, texture and luster of             adaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth and moderately glossy.             Pubescence, texture and luster of abaxial surface —             Glabrous, smooth and moderately glossy. Color — Juvenile             foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and             yellow-green, RHS 143A and 146A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B. Mature foliage,             adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and             yellow-green, RHS 143A and 146A yet nearest to 146A. Mature             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             146A. Venation — Pattern — Parallel. Mature foliage             venation, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green to             yellow-green, RHS 137A and 146A. Mature foliage venation,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146A.         -   Sheath.—Sheath length — 9.2 cm. Sheath width — 5.7 cm.             Sheath color — Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160A, and             suffused with yellow-green, nearest to RHS 153A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Terminal spike with showy bracts             and an average of 25 flowers.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering.         -   Time to flower.—Approximately 6 months.         -   Inflorescence quantity.—One.         -   Flowers per inflorescence.—Average of 25, with 10 open             flower and 15 in bud stage and not opening.         -   Inflorescence height.—Approximately 10.8 cm (measured from             base of lowest flower to top of upper flower).         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Average of 2.3 cm, excluding bracts,             and 15.4 cm with bracts.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — Approximately 26.8 cm long and 0.7 cm             in diameter. Attitude — Near vertical. Strength — Strong.             Texture and luster — Glabrous, smooth, and glossy. Color —             Yellow-green, RHS 145C. -   Bud:     -   -   Length.—Average of 2.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average of 0.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy.         -   Color.—Yellow, nearest to RHS 4D; distal one-third portion             and base are darker, nearest to RHS 7B. -   Flower:     -   -   Flower type and form.—Single; oblanceolate to narrow oblong.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Attitude.—Upright.         -   Height.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average of 0.3 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 2.7 cm.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Lastingness.—4 weeks.         -   Persistent.—Persistent.         -   Petals.—Quantity of Petals — 3. Arrangement — Rotate; single             whorl; petals free. Length — Approximately 1.0 cm. Width —             Approximately 0.3 cm. Shape — Oblong Aspect — Concave. Apex             — Obtuse. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire; not undulated.             Pubescence, texture and luster of upper surface — Glabrous,             smooth and slightly glossy. Pubescence, texture and luster             of lower surface — Glabrous, smooth and slightly glossy.             Color when opening, upper surface — Yellow, nearest to RHS             4A; apex is darker, nearest to RHS 7A. Color when opening,             lower surface — Yellow, nearest to RHS 2A; apex is             yellow-orange, nearest to RHS 14B. Color when fully opened,             upper surface — Yellow, nearest to RHS 4A; apex is darker,             nearest to RHS 7A. Color when fully opened, lower surface —             Yellow, nearest to RHS 4A; apex is darker, nearest to RHS             7A. Fading, upper surface — Not fading. Fading, lower             surface — Not fading. Venation color, fully opened, upper             surface — No venation is visible. Venation color, fully             opened, lower surface — No venation is visible.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Rotate. Length — Average of 2.5 cm. Diameter             — Average of 0.45 cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity — 3 unfused sepals in a single whorl.             Arrangement — Rotate. Length — 2.2 cm. Width — 0.3 cm. Shape             — Lanceolate. Aspect — Strongly concave. Apex — Bluntly             acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire. Pubescence, texture             and luster of upper surface — Glabrous, smooth, and             moderately glossy. Pubescence, texture and luster of lower             surface — Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Color             when opening, upper surface — Translucent white, nearest to             in between 155C and N155A, and suffused with yellow towards             the apex, nearest to RHS 8C. Color when opening, lower             surface — Translucent white, nearest to in between 155C and             N155A, and suffused with yellow towards the apex, nearest to             a mixture of RHS 8B and 8C. Color when fully opened, upper             surface — Translucent white, nearest to in between 155C and             N155A, and suffused with yellow towards the apex, nearest to             RHS 8C. Color when fully opened, lower surface — Translucent             white, nearest to in between 155C and N155A, and suffused             with yellow towards the apex, nearest to a mixture of RHS 8B             and 8C.         -   Bract.—General — One large, colorful bract at the base of             each individual flower. Shape — Obovate to oblong Aspect —             Concave. Dimensions — Average of 8.8 cm long, including the             sheath, and 2.8 cm wide. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Sheathing.             Margins — Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface — Smooth             and moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface —             Smooth and moderately glossy. Upper bract color, upper             surface — Nearest to a mixture of orange and orange-red, RHS             N25B and 33B; fading to a mixture of red and brown towards             the apex, nearest to RHS 42A and 200B; tip is yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 147A. Upper bract color, lower surface —             Nearest to orange-red, RHS N30A and N3013; fading to red             towards the apex, nearest to RHS 42B, and suffused with             yellow-green, RHS 147A, towards the tip; tip is             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A. Lower bract color, upper             surface — Green, RHS 137B, and suffused with red at the base             and margins, nearest to a mixture of RHS 42B and 42C. Lower             bract color, lower surface — Green, RHS 138A, and suffused             with red at the base and margins, nearest to RHS 42B. Sheath             — Sheath length — Average 4.4 cm. Sheath width — Average             4.3 cm. Sheath color, upper surface — Nearest to in between             yellow-green and greyed-green, RHS 152D and 160A. Sheath             color, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between             RHS N144A and 151A. Venation — No venation is visible. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — 6, on average. Anthers — Attachment —             Dorsifixed. Shape — Narrow sagitate. Dimensions — Average of             0.55 cm long and 0.075 cm wide. Color — White, nearest to             RHS 155A. Filaments — Length — 0.3 cm, on average. Color —             White, nearest to RHS 155D. Pollen — None detected.         -   Pistil.—Quantity — 1. Length — 0.45 cm. Style — Length —             0.35 cm. Color — White, nearest to RHS 155D. Stigma — Shape             — Club-shaped. Dimensions — Average of 0.1 cm long and 0.1             cm wide. Color — Yellow, nearest to RHS 4D. Ovary color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D. -   Fruit and seed: To date, not observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BUNGUZOR’ differ from its seed parent, an unnamed proprietary Guzmania plant, by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘BUNGUZOR’ The seed parent Foliage length. Shorter than the seed Longer than parent. ‘BUNGUZOR’. Foliage attitude. Upright and reflexed. Upright and not reflexed. General coloration Orange to orange-red, More of a bright orange of the bracts. generally appearing as coloration. more of a dull orange. Inflorescence size. Larger than the seed Smaller than parent. ‘BUNGUZOR’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BUNGUZOR’ differ from its pollen parent, an unnamed proprietary Guzmania plant (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘BUNGUZOR’ The pollen parent Foliage length. Longer than the pollen Shorter than parent. ‘BUNGUZOR’. General coloration Orange to orange-red, More of a bright of the bracts. generally appearing as orange coloration. more of a dull orange. Inflorescence size. Larger than the pollen Smaller than parent. ‘BUNGUZOR’.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR GUZMANIA CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

‘BUNGUZOR’ is similar in many horticultural characteristics to the commercial cultivar Guzmania ‘Variada’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 42943). However ‘BUNGUZOR’ differs from ‘Variada’ by the characteristics described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘BUNGUZOR’ ‘Variada’ Length of foliage. Longer than ‘Variada’. Shorter than ‘BUNGUZOR’. Foliage attitude. Upright and reflexed. Upright and not reflexed. General coloration Orange to orange-red, More of a bright orange of the floral bracts. generally appearing as coloration. more of a dull orange. Inflorescence size. Larger than ‘Variada’. Smaller than ‘BUNGUZOR’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Guzmania plant named ‘BUNGUZOR’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 